Vol 9 Chapter 137 (2/2)
“I’m going to see how Gan Qing is doing with dinner.” When I turned to look at Zi Long, I saw that she had gotten up and excused herself, “Let me just say this first, I am not like what Lord Xu Shu said! I do not… Ah! Cherish you that much!”
*Tatata*
n.o.body asked her anything but Zi Long spat these words out in a rather loud voice before running off. I really wonder what Zi Long was trying to convey. Could she have been shy? No way right?
“Lord Zhao Yun…” Yun Chang said as she smiled. Naturally, I did not know what she was smiling at.
“So…” Yuan Zhi stared at Zi Long’s back and turned back to look at Chen Dao, “That is why Lord Zhao Yun is not included. Of course, part of this also has to do with Lord Zhao Yun’s lieutenant, Lord Chen Dao.”
“I will never defect!” Chen Dao roared before anyone asked. Of course, this is something that I understand even if she does not say it.
“So Yun Chang, Wen Yuan and Chen Gong will be surrendering huh? And our strategy will depend on the outcome of their surrendering.”
“Yes.” Yuan Zhi nodded, seeming rather pleased at my summary.
“But what do we do exactly?”
“We can’t bring our troops out of the city and into the Cao camp right?”
Yun Chang and Wen Yuan asked as they shook their heads. Looks like they have already begun to consider this.
“… Could it be… That you intend to draw them in?” Chen Gong finally spoke up after a long while.
Yuan Zhi turned around and looked at Chen Gong, “More or less, yes.”
Drawing the enemy in… Ah! I think I get it!
“Then that means they will fake defecting to them and say that they will do something to the city from the inside…”
“… And then we will surround them inside the city?” Yun Chang continued after me.
Yuan Zhi smiled, “I didn’t think that even Xuan De figured it out.”
“I got lucky.” I said as I shook my head. I was actually pretty excited that my guess was on the mark but even so, I need to feign nonchalance.
“But… Will the enemy enter the city that easily?” Wen Yuan asked, “Even if the enemy believes our defecting to them, I don’t think that they will come in so easily.”
Ah… Yes… And the enemy has Shen Pei who will definitely be prudent in making decisions.
“And besides, let’s say we do defect and they believe it, what if they want us to act first and attack the enemy and they only come in after we are both weak?” Chen Gong continued.
“Indeed. The enemy may indeed not believe us. Especially when we propose for them to enter the city.” Yuan Zhi nodded and looked at everyone, “But we have our own chips to trade for that trust. Firstly, everyone going over is capable. Secondly, the troops under your command are also very good add-ons.”
“Very good… Add-ons?”
Yuan Zhi nodded, “I learned earlier that the exact number of our troops is about 12,000 and the enemy is about 16-17,000. In that case, a siege battle will be costly for them even if they do win.”
“Yes, we discussed this earlier today as well.” Chen Gong replied with a grim expression.
“Yes. But what if the defecting generals were to bring their troops along with them?” Yuan Zhi said as she began to pace about in the middle, “Lord Guan Yu has 2,000, Lord Zhang Liao has 2,000 and Lord Chen Gong has say…”
“More or less 2,000 as well. City defences have been a priority and I have traps to make as well.” Chen Gong replied. Yuan Zhi, and also Huang Zu, nodded as well.
“I understand. So 6,000 men right? If 6,000 men were to defect, then a 13,000 vs 16,000 scenario would become 7,000 vs 22,000.”
Wu… The difference in strength widened significantly all of a sudden. Losing the troops that those 3 command is equivalent to losing half of our strength all at once.
“Huang Zu,” Yuan Zhi asked as she turned to Huang Zu, “Given those numbers, would we be able to hold the city?”
“Yes,” Huang Zu answered, “In a normal city that is. With st.u.r.dy walls and an ample supply of rocks, arrows and spears, it can be done. But given the pathetic state of Xinye city, it will be very difficult to defend 4 gates with 7,000 men.”
“Can it be broken into?”
“Yes, easily.”
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